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Anne1964
Guest
I, too, would be happy to see it go away. I don’t mind shaking hands during the summer months, but once cold and flu season are here, I do not shake hands. I smile and nod and keep my hands clasped together.
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Tantum_ergo
Guest
Well most people know I live in a parish which is probably to the far left of Saul Alinsky, and our sign of peace involves not just the priest, but the altar servers as well, going the entire length of the church hugging and shaking hands with every person at the end of the pews, and anybody who wants to jump over and join in the festival. (And it is not a small church area wise). However, this is the least of the liturgical, well I won’t say abuses although they really are, but 'concerns, innovations, ad libs, embellishments" in any given Mass. At least, this is a real part of the Mass and he is ‘only’ going much further than usual. It’s not an ad lib or an omission; those are worse.
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twf
Guest
In my archdiocese its common to give a little bow of the head rather than shake hands. Probably due to Asian influence. This is Vancouver after all.
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Wesrock
Guest
The parishes I go to give enough to.e to shake the hands of those immediately beside, in front, and behind you, if that. I’ve never seen it go longer.
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Reuben_J
Guest
In our parish, a very large one, there is no necessity to shake hand., especily after GIRM. Any kind of body contact was discouraged but instead a simple bow to the person next to you is enough. One, of course, can shake hand though, but the understanding is that it would be perfectly alright even without it.
No big deal really.
No big deal really.
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Rosebud77
Guest
amen to this. And was added to with a gust of garlicky breath,We shake hands at my parish, and at all the churches I’ve been to in the region. I’m also uncomfortable with it – I’m a singer, and touching other people during cold and flu season is a bad idea. If I get sick I can’t work!
**When I started going back to church several years ago, I noticed a significant increase in the amount of time I spent ill during the cold season. Since I avoid the chalice in the winter because of germs, and church is the only place I am around sick people, I attribute this to the hand shaking. There once was a woman who spent the whole Mass coughing and blowing her nose into a crushed tissue **in her right hand, so when the Sign of Peace came, I folded my hands in front of me and bowed to her. She gave me a look that could have killed me, if looks could do such things. Now I bring hand sanitizer and use it. If it offends someone… well… okay then.
I would not mind in the least bit if my parish did away with this, though I do like that it occasionally gives me a moment to compliment a stranger and make her smile.
I always folded my hands in my sleeves, bowed my head and closed my eyes,
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Rosebud77
Guest
wow! After mass maybe but they all race out then…
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Oneofthewomen
Guest
This thread makes me so sad. 
I now understand why so many of our Protestant brothers & sisters think Catholics are cold & uncaring.
I understand all about compromised immune systems, arthritic hands and the like, but the attitude I am seeing is that people just don’t want fellowship with their fellow parishioners.
If you can’t shake hands, is a simple bow of the head and a “peace be with you” really that difficult?
Human kindness and touch and very important. For some, especially the elderly, the only interaction they get with others is at Mass. I would hate to miss an opportunity to share the love of Christ because a vocal minority is out of their “comfort zone”
I now understand why so many of our Protestant brothers & sisters think Catholics are cold & uncaring.
I understand all about compromised immune systems, arthritic hands and the like, but the attitude I am seeing is that people just don’t want fellowship with their fellow parishioners.
If you can’t shake hands, is a simple bow of the head and a “peace be with you” really that difficult?
Human kindness and touch and very important. For some, especially the elderly, the only interaction they get with others is at Mass. I would hate to miss an opportunity to share the love of Christ because a vocal minority is out of their “comfort zone”
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anon64350612
Guest
THIS. THIS. This is really my objection to offering the sign of peace. (and why I started this thread) We are preparing to receive the Eucharist. The consecration has taken place, the Eucharistic prayers are said, the Our Father is recited, all to prepare us to receive the Eucharist. All helping us to see our lives in the light of eternity. Then -bam- sign of peace. That is why I would rather not have to observe the offering of the sign of peace.
And usually I have been crying into a dirty tissue before we get to the sign of peace because the mass has gotten to me again - which is also a valid reason for others to not want to offer me the sign of peace. But that is secondary; I would prefer to be united with Christ as completely as I can be during the mass. The sign of peace interrupts that prayer. There are appropriate times to greet other people; I don’t think the middle of mass is one of those times.
I would also like to see this observance retired permanently.
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anon64350612
Guest
Please look at my comment above and re-read the reason why I started this thread. I am not commenting about germs. I am concerned about how the sign of peace can be disruptive to the prayer of the liturgy. If my prayer is to be united to Christ in the Eucharist, and we are all united in the Eucharist because we are all at mass together, how much more friendly or united can we be? I have no ill will if I don’t offer the sign of peace - often times I literally cannot be friendly during the sign of peace because I am so emotionally overcome by the sacrifice of the mass. There are times to be friendly that are more suitable than the middle of the solemn sacrifice of the mass.This thread makes me so sad.
I now understand why so many of our Protestant brothers & sisters think Catholics are cold & uncaring.
I understand all about compromised immune systems, arthritic hands and the like, but the attitude I am seeing is that people just don’t want fellowship with their fellow parishioners.
If you can’t shake hands, is a simple bow of the head and a “peace be with you” really that difficult?
Human kindness and touch and very important. For some, especially the elderly, the only interaction they get with others is at Mass. I would hate to miss an opportunity to share the love of Christ because a vocal minority is out of their “comfort zone”
And I do make a sign of peace when the priests tells us to do so, tears, dirty tissue, and all.
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Oneofthewomen
Guest
I read your OP and I do understand what you are saying, I just don’t agree.
The Church, in her wisdom, made the change to add the sign of peace, and to put it where it is in the liturgy. She must have seen some sort of wisdom in her decision, and it must still be relevant because it could have been changed when the new edition of the Roman Missal came out. The fact that it did not tells me that the Church thinks it is an important part of the liturgy.
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punisherthunder
Guest
We still do the sign of peace.
However I have noticed that there are several “ending” prayers. One is a prayer to St. Jude and the other is a “Prayerful Journey” prayer that we all recite together before the Mass has ended.
I just wish that there was a prayer to St. Michael at the end of the Mass. Or more Latin Masses said in general…
However I have noticed that there are several “ending” prayers. One is a prayer to St. Jude and the other is a “Prayerful Journey” prayer that we all recite together before the Mass has ended.
I just wish that there was a prayer to St. Michael at the end of the Mass. Or more Latin Masses said in general…
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Hoosier_Daddy
Guest
I don’t like it. But perhaps it’s for flu season. I used to be at a parish that ommited it during the winter. The cup too.
I actually liked it better. No EMHCs and no aisle crossing high fives.
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Horton
Guest
…have coffee & donuts so they can chat even more.
^ THIS is the time for fellowship. Not while Mass is going on.
The Sign of Peace is not required for some hypothetical “fellowship” to take place. At Mass, there is only one thing that unifies us, and that is the partaking of the same loaf. That is straight from Scripture and is the teaching of the Church.
One only needs to see how crazy people get during the Sign of Peace, depending on which Mass you attend.
And given that it’s optional, it can’t be as important as some people make it out to be.
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Operalan
Guest
Uhm…I think that’s exactly what most people say they do instead of shaking hands–giving a nod or bow. It’s not a matter of “comfort zone” for me–it’s a matter of good health. I can wish someone just as much peace whether I touch them or not. It’s the kind of interest that I take in them outside of Mass that is probably a lot more important.This thread makes me so sad.
I now understand why so many of our Protestant brothers & sisters think Catholics are cold & uncaring.
I understand all about compromised immune systems, arthritic hands and the like, but the attitude I am seeing is that people just don’t want fellowship with their fellow parishioners.
If you can’t shake hands, is a simple bow of the head and a “peace be with you” really that difficult?
Human kindness and touch and very important. For some, especially the elderly, the only interaction they get with others is at Mass. I would hate to miss an opportunity to share the love of Christ because a vocal minority is out of their “comfort zone”
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Oneofthewomen
Guest
If it is so “unimportant”, why did the Church add it to the Mass?
And if it was so “unimportant”, why did the Church not remove it altogether when the missal was revised?
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Bonnie
Guest
That’s a great idea, but I do wish people would come up with something more than sweets. If I could afford it I’d donate a cheese & meat platter. Sometimes I don’t want coffee & the only other choice is regular tea, so I have to bring my own herb tea bags. I am going to donate a box of assorted herb teas for the one parish we go to that has an evening potluck social hour.
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Bonnie
Guest
I think it’s optional. I remember years ago a priest who didn’t do it. He’d say Peace be with you & then go on with the Mass. I’m sure there were/are more than the one.
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goout
Guest
Every parish has different levels of enthusiasm for this. I try to be prepared for the local custom.
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